A Resolution for 2012: Getting Toys Organized

Thanks to everyone who left comments and sent in e-mails yesterday, both welcoming me back (so nice to know you missed me!) and sharing your goals and resolutions for 2012!  I loved reading all of them.

One of the e-mails I received was from Amanda, a mom of three in Tyler, Texas, who, like me, wants to be more organized this year, especially with her kids' toys.  The problem?  Their play space currently has no closet or shelving so she's looking for inexpensive but attractive ways to store all of their stuff.  Well, Amanda, here are a few suggestions.

If you've got boys with lots of toys, this super idea from Sugartot Designs is sure to get them excited to clean up!

And they're simple to make too.  Just use the free printable patternss from Sugartot Designs to cut out felt Superhero logos and hot glue them to store-bought bins.  You'll be done in a flash!

I'm totally stealing, I mean borrowing, this fun idea from Landee See, Landee Do.

She used her Silhouette to make vinyl labels for the drawers on an Ikea TROFAST storage unit (just $39!) so her daughter always knows what goes where.

Don't have a Silhouette?  No worries!  It's easy to make chalkboard labels like these using the tutorial from Lil Blue Boo:

Or you can download these free printable toy bin tags from Lily Jane.

Need a spot to keep books organized?  Cory Connor Designs picked up a $4 wagon from Goodwill and uses it as a bookshelf.

It's cute and wallet-friendly!

Speaking of wallet-friendly, think outside the box (or bin!) when it comes to organizing toys.  Most of them are actually kind of cute, so why not put them on display?  Hit up your local home improvement store for some garden baskets to mount on the wall and you've got instant - and easily accessible - storage.

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Whether at child height, like the ones above, or filling a whole wall like this:

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Wire baskets are a unique way to keep toys neat - and show them off!

Last but not least is a project that I'll be attempting, thanks to all of the fun dress-up clothes my girls got for the holidays.  Natalie from A Turtle's Life For Me took an old dresser and transformed it into a dreamy dress up closet.

And if all else fails, let your kids make a piece of art like this one from Play Dr. Mom, and hang it by the door.

For more ways to keep your playroom perfect, check out my Planning the Playroom Board on Pinterest.

Do you have a storage solution for toys that's worked for you?  We'd love to hear about it!  And keep those e-mails on goals and resolutions for 2012 coming!

TEN THINGS TUESDAY

I'm very excited about this new feature on AFOMFT.   There are always so many fun, random things that I want to share with you guys but I never seem to have the right place to do it.  Now I do!

Drink I'm Loving:  Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade (aka Alcoholic Arnold Palmer).  I first had this during a girl's trip to New Orleans last year and it's a refreshing drink that's just perfect for summer.  I highly suggest you use Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka if you want to make these at home.

Books I'm Loving:  I've been tearing through books on my iPad Kindle app this summer and some of my favorites so far have been Bossypants by Tina Fey (a must-read for everyone!), Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran (great historical fiction about the French Revolution) and The Paris Wife by Paula McLean (a fictional account of the life of Ernest Hemingway's first wife).

App I'm Loving:  Speaking of iPads, if you have one you have to try out Zite, a free app that takes your interests and collects relevant articles from around the web to create your own personalized online magazine.  I'm hooked!

Recipe I'm Loving:  Cinnamon Broiled Chicken with Raita from Everyday Food.  I've been making this for a while but it's always a hit and so simple to pull off that it stays on my "love" list.

TV Show I'm Loving:  HGTV's Holmes Inspection.  My husband and I have been fans of Mike Holmes for years (we've seen every episode of Holmes on Homes at least twice) so we never miss his newest series.  Although I have to admit that as new home owners, it always makes me nervous we have hidden water damage somewhere or a faulty foundation!  I wonder if Mike would be up for a trip to Rhode Island to make me feel better?


Website I'm Loving:  Copy Cat Chic is one my favorite reads each day, especially now that I'm on a decorating kick.  Reichel finds less expensive versions of some amazing goodies for your home, like this PBK Boat Bed, which is $1,299:

And this KidKraft Bed, just $149!

Makeup I'm Loving:  Nars Orgasm lip gloss is the world's perfect pink!  It's not a sticky consistency and the color looks natural on everyone.

Kids Toy I'm (or should I say "We're") Loving:  Lately, the girls are obsessed with cars, specifically the ones from Little People.  Our next purchase will definitely be the Little People Racin' Ramps Garage, so they have somewhere to put them all!

Craft Idea I'm Loving:  I can't wait to make some of these stitched leather bracelets from Crafty Nest!

Funny I'm Loving:  This gave me a good giggle.

I'd love to hear about the things you're loving right now!  Share the app, movie, book, craft idea, TV show, whatever that's got you giddy in the comments and your picks might be included in next week's TEN ON TUESDAY feature.

Please note that this list is made up of things I actually use, read, watch, try, etc. and truly enjoy.  These opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way to share them here.

Horsing Around {GIVEAWAY}

Life with two toddlers pretty much guarantees that your home is filled with brightly colored plastic toys that take up way too much room and totally negate any semblance of style you've tried to give your space.  So with the holidays just around the corner, I went on a quest to find some gifts for Gabrielle and Alaina that wont' require me to put on sunglasses when I enter my own house, and I was so excited when I found just the thing.

Hobby horses from Manely Recycled!  Just look at the cuteness!

I know, I know, you're probably thinking that you can get hobby horses anywhere but the ponies from Manely Recycled are really unique.  Each one is handmade by Amy, a mom to three boys under 4, from recycled and upcycled materials she buys from thrift stores, which makes every horse one of a kind. She says her boys fall in love with each pony she creates and they love to see photos of them in their new forever homes.  Does it get any sweeter than that?

I can totally see how Amy's little guys would be head-over-heels for this Puff Dragon version:

Your little princess will love riding off on the Pink Leopard pony!

Or these fabulous unicorns.

And the plaid reins on the Molly horsey make me smile.

Amy very generously sent me a pony for Gabrielle and Alaina to try out.  I was immediately impressed with the details.  The yarn mane is super soft and the length of the dowel is perfect for toddlers.

And our guy has a pretty brown button eye!

It was love at first sight for Gabrielle.  She gave the pony kisses.

And stroked his mane.

She even took him for a ride on her rocking cow.

Unfortunately, I can't show you what Alaina thought because when I tried to give her the pony, Gaby held tight and gave me this face:

Yeah, we're still working no that sharing thing.  Obviously, I'll be ordering another hobby horse from Manely Recycled before World War III breaks out at our house!

If you're like me and like buying mom-made green products then the ponies from Manely Recycled should be going on your holiday list, which is why they're one of our HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS.

And if your little one loves polka dots or is all about the color yellow, Amy can make custom a pony to your specifications (provided she can find the right materials).  Because each horse is totally handmade, make sure you place your order before December 5th to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas (you can pay for expedited shipping after the 5th too) or if you miss the deadline, you can buy the little cowboy or cowgirl on your list a gift certificate instead.

And boy am I glad to find a great gift that my kids love without any bright plastic or batteries required.  Hallelujah!

Amy has graciously offered to give away one custom-made hobby horse to a lucky AFOMFT reader!  To enter, visit Manely Recycled and post a comment here telling me what you'd like your horse to look like if you win (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:

• Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber.
• Visit Manely Recycled on Etsy and add the store to your favorites.
• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook 
• "Like" Manely Recycled on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does.  You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.  
• Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway:  It's the Holiday Happening on @AFOMFT w/ a giveaway-a-day all month! #Win an upcycled hobby horse 4 your kiddo - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - .  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Grab our HOLIDAY HAPPENING button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends November 30th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on December 1st. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that Manely Recycled sent me one hobby horse for the purpose of this review.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions I've shared of their products are my own and yours may differ.

Images: AFOMFT & Manely Recycled

DEAL ALERT: Sales Around the Web

Here are a few great deals you can score this week!

At The Mini Social:

Toys and Puzzles from Mudpuppy from $4!  My favorites?  This Sporty Girl Magnetic Dolls set:

And the Where the Wild Things Are First Puzzle.

While you're at The Mini Social, check out their Crocs sale too!  Prices start at $15 for boys and girls styles.

At Zulily:

You can score Rockabye Rockers at 40% off!  My girls got two of them for their birthday and they LOVE them.  There are lots of styles to choose from.  My picks?  The bi-plane.

And ladybug.

Zulily also has great clothing from Wild Mango in infant, toddler and boys sizes.

As well as for girls too.

And last but not least, it's Buy More, Save More time at The Children's Place!  Spend $40 and save 15% with code SAVE15, spend $50 and save $20 with code SAVE20 and spend $60 or more and save 25% with code SAVE25 online.  Get the same savings in store, no coupon needed!  Get your holiday shopping done early.

If you're not already a member at The Mini Social or Zulily, please use the links within this post so I get referral points.  Thanks!